Hi,
I've recently got a job in the learning disabilities team, as a social worker. It's called an 'Integrated Team'.
I'm very pleased, obviously, as I'm newly qualified and I had been contemplating life on the scrap heap only the day before the delayed call, offering me the position.
However, I'll admit I'm nervous. It was one of those interviews where they had a number of positions available across adults services, and they decided I'd slot into LD very well. I did not actually imagine I was going to get offered an LD position at the interview. I have no prior or placement experience in learning disabilities. My experience is mainly all in Mental Health. I tell a lie...I worked for Sense as a volunteer for a week, about 9 years ago, but that seems a very long time ago now.
I've read about LD and to be honest, it seems there's a similar ethos to mental health. Going by what I said in the interview, and what I wrote on my application, I can understand why I was offered the position. So that's nice to feel.
But nonetheless, I would like to know as much as possible.
- Are there any LD social workers on here with any advice or tips?
- Anything specific I should read? I've looked at Valuing People (although it's ridiculously long, so I did skim) and read some chapters in books about general LD practice....but is there anything else? Law?
- What are the best things, and what are the 'challenges' in LD?
Anyway, any advice is welcome :)
Well done on the job!
I finished my last placement in March - I was a care manager for people with LD in the community. The main issues were; risk management, carers assessments, the personalisation agenda (with all service users being switched to personal budgets rather than coming to day centres), the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and safeguarding. There's also quite a lot of crossover with mental health issues too, so some knowledge of the MHA 1983 is good too.
You're very lucky - I would have loved to stay in the team, I loved the work and the service users were great.
Good luck with it!
Hi
Good things ... exploring the structural ararngements of how indvidual budgets are impacting on clients with LD and finding ways to resolve the funding diffculties. with funding panels or getting that allocated placement at a residential becasue your care plan was clear and concise with all additional evidence form OTs, psychiaitrists, psychologists. family, speech and langauge teams or laywers to ensure a decision is made promptly.
Working with collegues with enormous amounts of understanding and insight into how clients are supported by carers, family, and the agencies thats provide day and night care. Not to metion their working knowledge of all the spectrum of disabilities related to LD, and some obsure ones too...
Sharpening up on how the mental capacity act is utilised when doing mental capacity assements e.g gaining a new tenancy. and using your written and oral skills to interview around this.
Ensuring your adult safeguarding practice is operational and your observation skills are sharp when you visit for the first time.
Any tribual hearings you attend need to be researched first so you dont leave yourself open to criticisms from other professionals.
Negatives are the break down of one or more of the above.
Accounting and evidencing your actions... should you be investigated by complaints procedures broght by family or others . Remember your actions may end end up in court...
First off - congratulations on the job. This is your foot-in-the-door opportunity, so treat it accordingly. I've been working in LD since qualifying 2 years ago and love it, mainly because it's really complicated. Mental health and LD have a lot of crossover elements, it's a relatively easy step between the two. LD is challenging because of the complexities involved, but with an integrated team you'll have the health colleagues available (who you will rely on for joint decision-making). Just remember with LD that it's never as simple as it may appear.
As for resources to study, you'll need to know the legislation relating to disabilities (DDA, CSDPA, MCA etc). Get onto the Safeguarding training ASAP, and NEVER try to make a difficult decision by yourself. Integrated teams generally work really well because you need health and social ideas to address the situation - make use of your colleagues.
Oh, and don't be afraid to use this place as a source of information. Just keep it anonymous.
'He that is taught only by himself has a fool for a master' - HST.